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Thursday, April 2, 2009

A Code To Live By

Although my children are young, I worry about their future. Teens today face tough issues and choices. The world that my kids will navigate will be drastically different than the life I knew growing up.

I’ve read that parents can make a difference by really understanding the culture in which their teen lives. Without such understanding, I might never be able to get inside my kids’ minds and understand what’s going on.

However, how on earth do I accomplish this? In a time that is dominated by everything on the Internet, such as social networking, Twitter, and e-mail, how do I help my children become well-rounded individuals?

Like any teenager of the 1990’s, the cornerstone of my morale code was based on a number of “complex” factors. Among these, the most important was a little show my friends and I referred to as The Code. Yes, my life lessons were reinforced each and every week on Fox TV's 90210.

During the ten years The Code was on TV, I learned many, many things that I someday hope to pass onto my own children:

1) The Power of the Protest

I think my friends in Beverly Hills first taught me to stand up for my rights when they banned together to support Donna Martin’s fight to graduate. Protests and petitions are really the way to get things done. I learned that friends fight for friends after Donna’s tragic inability to hold her alcohol at prom led the administration to deny her graduation.

2) Don’t Give Up on a Good Thing

Three words: The Peach Pit. If you find a place you like to hang out as a teenager, why find something new when you are in your 20’s, or even your 30’s? Just open up a “club” in the backroom or simply buy the place, so that you never have to leave.

3) Never Move Out of Your Parent’s House

Brandon and Brenda first moved to Beverly Hills High as juniors. Ultimately, Brandon outlasted even his own parents in the Walsh home, claiming it as his own and having roommates move in during college. Given the current economic climate and the downturn in the housing market, isn’t this a life plan we should all be considering?

4) Just Say No to Drugs
Donna’s addiction to pain killers, Dylan’s addiction to heroine, and Kelly’s addiction to cocaine all taught the viewing public a valuable life lesson. Drugs are bad. And, more importantly, you don’t look good when you do drugs. Think bad hair and rumpled clothes. Ack!

5) It is Wrong to Date Outside your Inner Circle of Friends

There were 8 core members in the inner circle on The Code. (If you cannot name them immediately, you should be reading this blog.) Ultimately, they all ended up either sleeping with or married to one another. It just made sense that way.

-Francesca
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79 comments:

Cammie said...

thank you for bringing that other blog into my life.

Donna Martin Graduates.

The High Family said...

How do you do it? I could never be this clever!

PS- thanks for stopping by my blog after your little hi8tus! I've missed ya! :)

Crazee Juls said...

Oh, how I loved me some 90210... Great post! I always wanted a place like "The Peach Pit.." to go to. It just looked so awesomely crazee cool and fun...

Unknown said...

You never cease to amaze me with your witty posts! I watched 90210 a lot back in the day!

Unknown said...

This is an awesome post!!! my beans growing up has been a theme this week for me on my blog...I am NOT ready!

Deb said...

Once again, you have shown me that you and I are connected on a mystical level. Thank you for reminding me how much I owe to the gang at West Beverly.

Paging Doctor Mommy said...

Now I can't get the chant "Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!" out of my head!
I too, my friend, lived by THE CODE.
Have you seen the new 90210? As bad as it is, I can't stop watching it!

Kristina P. said...

I'm a little surprised you didn't have anything on here about 40 year-old men being in high school, and sideburns. I'm going to need you to do some research on that.

Riddle Girl said...

I love what you ladies do on your blog!
I have to say I stopped at the last picture and made sure I could still actually name all of them.
*I PASSED*!

Lara Neves said...

I am so glad I didn't marry anyone from my "inner circle"...Facebook has assured me that it would have been disastrous!

Funny post.

Kelly Deneen Raymond said...

I never realized how much insight 90210 brought to my life. hehe.

Thanks for this! ;)

peewee said...

puh-lease. i di'int even NEED that last pic to name them all. they're FAMILY...and still on soap network sat mornings. I mean I don't STILL watch it. pff. No way!

Tulip Row said...

I was just discussing how I did not know Dr. Cullen from the Twilight movie, in real life was married to Jennie Garth, with some teens. They stared at me blankly, and asked, "whose that?"!!!!!!!

Laura said...

Let Donna Martin Graduate!

P.S Come on by. Tag your it with some Q and A. Love your blog!

theUngourmet said...

This is a fun post! I know the name of this show but I am sorry to say that I do not remember everyone's names! I was a teen in the 80's and I was all about MTV back then! Have a great day! :0)

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

I, too, was a teenager in the 90's. Your post was like a little flashback...very funny!

lmt1073 said...

I never missed an episode!!! I love that show and still catch reruns on the soap channel.

Kailey said...

I actually can't name a single one of them!

Heather said...

Don't forget that you can have a horrible radio show based in the school hallways, and become one of the cool kids despite being a major dork.

Didn't they all have drug problems at one time or another? I seem to have memories of Brandon and David taking pills.

Man, those kids had every problem imaginable? How did they survive?!

Glad your back roaming the net!

dede said...

donna
david
andrea
steve
kelly
brandon
brenda
dylan

whew - glad I can remember the important things! Need to get my kids started on the re-runs! Thanks for the advice!

Felicia - I complete Me said...

I miss that show! I so can relate to you. I have a 13 year old son and although I'm still rather young, I'm still considered ancient to him. How do we stay informed so you can no how to approach your kid in their world and not the world we lived.

Unknown said...

Hahaha! What a ride down memory lane. I watched almost every episode I think! :P

Thanks for popping by my blog... What an enigmatic message you left me - what WAS missing???

Lori said...

Ok, so one of my most tragic teenage moments was being grounded from watching this show. I thought I was going to die. I think I actually studied harder under the threat that it could happen again.

Is it possible I owe my highschool diploma to the cast of 90210? Have mercy.

Becky said...

Bless you for reminding me of the important things in life! I also learned valuable lessons from Boy Meets World and, sadly, Full House. Good stuff.

Anonymous said...

Priceless....need I say more?!? Thank you for paying tribute to a show that is truly sacred.
-Gianna

Heidi said...

Very clever and I feel very sure if I had ever seen even one episode of this show, I would be laughing hysterically. (boy do I feel out of it!)

Amy said...

Hello, Great to read you again. I loved this post. That show was a hit. Do you watch the new one. Thanks for coming by my blog the other day. It feels brighter since you came by. Have a great day.

peewee said...

and PLEASE do NOT forget the major lesson. that you too can be a white rapper! AND that high schools have their own radio stations!

Lisa@saltandlightstudio said...

Wait are you ALLOWED to speak "The Code" out loud....this goes against my inner sense of secrecy and desire to "one up" the rest of the world.

BlogBaby

Sarah said...

I have *never* seen 90210. My dad wouldn't give up the remote and so I watched Law & Order reruns...

I was deprived of major life lessons, it seems. I feel jilted.

As a side note: Aha! I'll bet that's where this little diner that opened here last year (decorated in 50s style, called The Peach Pit) got their name.

Aquaspce said...

Totally - if the entire World could just follow the simple rules of 90210...

He & Me + 3 said...

I loved that show! Faithful watcher. I will have to remember all the lessons once learned from that show:) Thanks for the reminders.

Anonymous said...

what a fun/ great post!

I was in college when this was on, but I would skip some of my meetings or classes sometimes to make sure I watched it. LOL

funny!

Anonymous said...

This blog Rocks!! I was sooo hooked on 90210!!

Esther said...

Amen. I learned all those life lessons too. I still park my butt in the lazy boy when 90210 is on. The OLD one. Do you watch the new one? I didn't like it.

Jennifer said...

Are you Confucius? Have I asked you this before? You ARE Confucius, aren't you?

Vanessa said...

Just yesterday I watched a little 90210 on the SOAP channel. It was the episode where Brandon and Brenda's dad got a job in Minn. and they were going to have to move. And Aundrea pretty much told Brandon she would sleep w/him before he left and Dylan and Brenda were so mad at Kelly that her mom wouldn't let her move in.

No wonder my mom forbid me to watch.

And PS, the new 90210 sucks...but I watch because I love me some Rob Estes.

Anonymous said...

Total flashback, LOVED IT!

I ♥ 90210

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Can you believe I never watch 90210? I am older and when that show was on, I guess I was doing other things, like changing diapers and trying to catch a nap. Mine are teenagers now and I am so grateful they are fine young women with great morals and values, great friends, beautiful inside and out.

They have the world by the tail and they don't even know it!

Megan {ShabbyBlogs} said...

I'm pretty sure we were sisters in a former life. I'm just going to throw that out there.

Counselormama said...

OMG, memories...we used to joke that coincidently, the only "virgin" on the show was the show creator's daughter! He couldn't bear to have her in sex type scenes I guess. SNL's versions were always good too!

Because of Love said...

SO funny! Love it!

*Monica said...

will you still love me if I admit that I refused to watch 90210?

Anonymous said...

I have made so many mistakes in my life. Where were you when I was making my grandest decisions?

Donnetta said...

What will my children do without 90210 to guide them?! Thank God for reruns!!!!

Mary@Holy Mackerel said...

I loved 90210. My husband didn't get it, why I wanted to watch a bunch of teens, but he obviously didn't understand...

Anonymous said...

you know I was just thinking about that today because I missed the new 90210 episode with Tori Spelling, I wanted to see it because of her, not that I'm into the new 90210, I just can't get into that one I guess im old that's why!!

Helene said...

I used to love that show and I'm guilty of watching re-runs whenever it's on!!!

Glad to see your back...I did notice your absence so I was pleased to see your comment!!!

Sevi said...

I heart you for this blog. HAHA! I grew up watching 90210 with my older sister.

Is it sad I named them all as soon as I saw the pictures?!?

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

AAAa... the good ole days. I *hearted* 90210, as did most of us cool teen chicks in the 90's. It was like the grown-up (as in I'm, like, a teenager so now I'm, like, officially grown up!) version of playing with Barbies. Nothing was impossible.

Freaktabulous.

Unknown said...

Yes, I watched "The Code" too. Shh, don't tell I won't admit it.

Winks & Smiles,
Wifey

Nana said...

oh, Francesa, Francesca, you are in for such a treat when you have teenagers or even a kindergartner who comes home and asks what a (I won't even say) anyway I fell off my chair.

SE'LAH... said...

Your wit is brilliant!

Another wonderfully hilarious post.

Unknown said...

If memory serves me correctly (I swear, I only watched it for the hairstyles!) Andrea slept with Jesse, who was NOT in the core group, got pregnant and married him. I believe the baby was in the NICU for a while and her name was Gabrielle?

Danyele Easterhaus said...

i feel a big hair do all the sudden....hmmmm.

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

Umm, can I mention that i have NEVER seen an episode of this show? Ever? Or does that make me odd(er)
p.s. I cannot get enough of Emi's hair in the pic below. And? Loving the new pic of Lucia!

Unknown said...

Seems that is the key, NEVER move out of your parents' house. That's when my decline began. Can I please has a do over?

Lucia said...

The Code for raising morally upright citizens of tomorrow? Outstanding.
Myself, I used to watch One Life to Live to learn the secrets to lasting marital bliss.
TV's awesome.

Welcome back to blogland!

rebel said...

I was a teen of the 70's. But my daughter was a teen of the 90's. Does that count? She did watch 90210.

amanda said...

soooo enlightening. your children will learn a lot. :0) i learned a lot. i remember being little and being allowed to stay up til nine on wednesday to watch 90210. my mom was working 2nd shift and my dad allowed us to watch it!!

Unknown said...

Well sorry Francesca, but I was an 80's teen...But I can tell you...you are in for such a treat as your children grow....


bwaaaaah (I hope that sounds like an evil laugh) ;0}

Whitney said...

I just missed the 90210 thing, well actually not just missed,I was still in elementary school. However, I do like the post! It all makes sense to me!

Leslie said...

Thanks for the memories...

rachel said...

Oh, I "heart" you.

Holly said...

Hahaha! I used to watch this show religiously. Who knew I was actually learning about life?

Susannah said...

oh my gosh francesca, you are hilarious. i love it.

Megan said...

Hahahaha So great! I watched this show all the time...occasionally still do. =)

Heather of the EO said...

I love you even more now!

I have to go check out that blog now.

(I really shouldn't be this excited)

Wonder Woman said...

Thank goodness for the code. Now our children will never suffer.

But I have to wonder.....what show gives children today their code? Gossip Girl? Or Hannah Montana? (Both scary in their own right.)

Omah's Helping Hands said...

I love your funny wit and charm. Great lessons shared here Francesca. I've missed visiting your blog.

TLF said...

LOVE me some 90210!!!

Tami (Pixeltrash) said...

You are so funny. I am 40 and watched the original and I'm now watching the new one. How sad!
They sucked me right in!!! Gossip Girl too. I don't think I really ever grew up!

Stacy Uncorked said...

I absolutely loved 90210. Thanks for brilliantly bringing the gang back for me... ;)

joanofalltrades said...

I used to live for 90210. It was something about watching shows in which I realted to none of the characters that made me see there was a world out there that I did not know. Then I went to college in the south and realized that I was the world that they didn't know. Welcome back! I'm glas to be back too!

Kirsty said...

Oh 90210...I LOVED that show...sorry, not loved, LOVE that show. Oh Dylan...

Gibby said...

OMG, that was awesome! I have to show this to my hubby. Yes, he watched that show. Can you believe it?

Kristen said...

I can't believe I watched that show. How is it possible that they all had bad hair?

Grand Pooba said...

Francesca, you have know idea what this post has done for me. How did you know that I have been faithfully renting and watching ALL the 90210 seasons? Yes, I am on season 6 and have learned oh so much!

You make me so happy, there really is hope for our children's future. I think I will just bite the bullet and buy all the seasons so I can sit my two year old in front of the TV and she/he can learn all of life's lessons.

Plus that would allow me to blog while the 90210 is babysitting my kid.

tiburon said...

Donna Martin graduates!!!

Everything I need to know about life I learned from 90210. It is true.